Josa (a.k.a. Joyce) Bivin, wife of David Bivin, was raised in Southern California. Josa is a graduate of BIOLA's two-year Bible course, later receiving a B.A. in Elementary Education from Los Angeles State College. She began her teaching career at Collegewood Elementary School in the Walnut School District of Los Angleles. While teaching full time, she worked weekends, and during the summers, at Forest Home Christian Conference Center located in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Josa’s first trip to Israel in 1966 brought her to Haifa. Later, she experienced kibbutz life by working as a volunteer at Kibbutz Yagur. She then moved to Kfar Shmaryahu (near Tel Aviv), becoming the first dorm mother for the Baptist high school students studying at the American International School.
Returning to California in 1967, Josa again taught school, saving her money until she was able to return to Israel in 1968. Following a seven-month stint as a volunteer at Kibbutz Mesilot (located at the foot of Mount Gilboa, near Beth Shean), she was offered an opportunity to work at Baptist House, an information center and the offices of Jerusalem's seventeen-member Narkis Street Baptist Church pastored by Robert Lindsey. There she met David. After a two month acquaintance, on October 1, 1969, with Dr. Lindsey and Prof. David Flusser officiating, she and David were married (in the outdoor theater behind Baptist House). On October 9, 1970, their son Natan was born in Jerusalem. (Josa and David now have four grandsons.)
Josa served for three years (1999-2001) as secretary of the Hebrew University's Armenian Studies Program. She still serves the program in a voluntary capacity. As a second-generation Armenian American, she spends her spare time researching her family history and continues to discover lost relatives. Her article, “The Armenian Molokans of Karakala,” was published in Armenian Kars and Ani (Richard G. Hovannisian, ed.; Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda, 2011), 367-392, vol. 10 of the UCLA conference series, “Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces.”

Did Jesus regard John the Baptist as a prophet? As more than a prophet? What did he mean that the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John the Baptist? Explore these questions in Yeshua’s Words about Yohanan the Immerser.

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